Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on Sunday broke ground for an eco-city in the northern metropolis of Tianjin.

The eco-city, to be built on a salt flat of about 30 square kilometers, is the second such joint project by the two governments after the Suzhou Industrial Park in east China's Jiangsu Province.

Hailing the project as a "model," Wen said the construction of the eco-city signified bilateral efforts to deal with global climate change and realize sustainable development.

The eco-city, 40 km from downtown Tianjin and 150 km from Beijing, will be guided by Singapore's use of solar and wind power and rain recycling experience. Singapore will also share with Tianjin its expertise on waste water treatment and desalination.

Wen said he expected the two countries to step up coordination and ensure the success of the project, which was expected to be completed in 10 to 15 years.

On China-Singapore ties, Wen lauded bilateral cooperation over the three decades since China's reform and opening-up. He said China would like to work with Singapore to train more talents and boost bilateral ties.

Goh congratulated China on recent successes, including the Beijing Olympics, Paralympics and the launch of Shenzhou-7 manned spacecraft and a spacewalk.

Singapore-China ties have made continuous progress, Goh said, citing the free trade agreement and the groundbreaking of the eco-city.

He proposed the two countries cooperate more closely on education and personnel training.

Later Sunday, Wen also attended the world airline giant Airbus' s final assembly line inauguration ceremony, the only one outside Europe.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2008)